his state as he would if his constituents were close in proximity. The anti-Federalist, pen-named “Brutus,” offers a historical example of how successful small republics are compared to large ones in matters of maintaining the freedom of its citizens. “History furnishes no example of a free republic, anything like the extent of the United States. The Grecian republics were of a small extent; so also was that of the Romans. Both of these, it is true, in process of time, extended their conquests over large territories of country; and the consequence was, that their governments were changed from that of free governments to those of the most tyrannical that ever existed in the world (Kammen 308-9).” If the great republics of the world could not maintain the freedom of its citizens while expanding their territories, why should America be any different? This view is supported Monesquieu, as Brutus cites: “In a large republic, the public good is sacrificed to a thousand views. In a small one, the interest of the public is easier perceived, better understood, and more within the reach of every citizen (Kammen 308).” Moving from his historical examples and looking to the “nature of things” surrounding extensive republics, Brutus argues, “In a pure democracy the people are the sovereign…for this purpose they must all come together to deliberate, and decide. This kind of government cannot be exercised, therefore, over a country of any considerable extent (Kammen 309).” Although a pure democracy was not a practical option for such a large nation, the argument for a democratic form of government in terms of representation and consent remains valid. The position that, compared to a small republic, a large republic will not insure the freedom of its citizens, stood in direct opposition to James Madison’s rationalization for consolidating the states as expressed in the ...
